The charges has been pending since Nov. 19, 2007, when Prospect Park Police Officer Brian Koppenal charged Ames-Garnes with obstructing the administration of the law, obstructing highways and other public passages and disorderly conduct.

Ames-Garnes maintains the Prospect Park officer had no jurisdiction in Paterson. Police contend that the officer was within his rights because he had witnessed the traffic violation , a broken taillight , in Prospect Park and made the stop a few blocks into Paterson.

The prosecution has said it will seek to have Ames-Garnes removed from office, should she be found guilty. She also faces possible jail time and fines.

The officer filed an additional charge of fourth-degree riot and failing to disperse, which was the only indictable offense of the group. A state grand jury, however, did not indict her on that charge in 2008.

Court administrators moved the case to Hawthorne to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, given that the parties involved work for their respective municipalities.